Motor vehicle



Sept. 6, 1938. c. R. PATON MOTOR VEHICLE Filed Deo. 17, 1954 5 Sheets-Sheet l Sept. 6, 1938.. C R, PATON 2,129,232

I MOTOR VEHICLE Filed Dec. 17, 1954 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Sept. 6, 1938. Q R, PATON 2,129,232

MOTOR VEHICLE Filed Dec. 17, 1934 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 s, @man www. 2

Sept. 6, 1938. Q R PATON v 2,129,232

MOTOR VEHICLE 'Filed De. 1'7,` 1954 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 ,y `Patented Sept. 6, 1938 N UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MOTOR VEHICLE Application December 17, 1934, Serial No. 757,919

Claims. (Cl. 180-73) e This invention relates to motor vehicles and is more particularly concerned with wheel suspensions of the independent type and with driving mechanism for vehicle road wheels suitable for 5 use with such wheel suspensions.

It is the principal object of the invention to provide a wheel suspension which is simple and inexpensive to construct and which will afford improved riding qualities and freedom from l0 vibrational disturbances. The invention is particularly useful when applied to the suspension of the rear driving road v'Wheels of the vehicle and is of such a nature as to counteract in large part the disagreeable effects producedon the' sudden application of brakes to vehicles in which the front wheels are independently supported, especially where the front wheel suspension involves the employment of readily yielding means such as coil springs having little or no static friction] Thus in the preferred form of the present invention as applied to the suspension of the rear road wheels .of the vehicle, wheel supporting arms pivotally connected to the frame on Aa common transverse axis `disposed forwardly of the wheels are preferably employed, this ar-V rangement tending to cause depression of the yrear end of the vehicle frame when the brakes are applied.. The pronounced tendency of a Vehicle employing independent suspensionat the forward end to dip on the application of brakes is thereby modied and the resultant effect is a slight and unobjectionable lowering of the wholer frame when the vehicle is retarded or stopped,

the usual disagreeable rocking of the frame about a transverse axis being avoided.

It is a more specific object of the invention to provide an independent wheel suspension for the rear `driving road wheels in combination with .f driving mechanism for the wheels including differential gearing, the Wheel supporting means `and the differential gearing being supported on v the vehicle -frame through rubber for the purpose of `cushioning road shock and damping vibrations. In the preferred form of the invention the wheel supporting means directly carries the Wheel hub and the driving mechanism for the wheel is connected to the Wheel through means disposed withinbthe hub and affording 4relative lateral displacement between the driving mecha, nism and the wheel, to provide a compact and readily accessible structure.

Further objects and features of the invention will be apparent from the following description taken in .connection with the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a plan view of a portion of a motor vehicle chassis illustrating the manner in which the present invention may be applied;

' Figure 2 is an enlarged view, partly in section, of a portion of the structure shown in Figure 1; 5

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 3 3 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a section on the line 4 4 of Figune 1;

Figure 5 is a section on the line 5 5 of Fig- 10 ure 1;

Figure 6 is a horizontal sectional view through the wheel hub and associated parts;

Figure 7 is a horizontal sectional view of a detail shown in Figure 1; l5

Figure 8 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 8 8 of Figure 1;

Figure 9 isa sectional view taken substantiall on the line 9 9 of Figure 1;

Figure 10 is a vertical. sectional view through 20 the universal joint on the longitudinally extending drive shaft shown in Figure 1; and

Figure 1l;v isa horizontal sectional view through the universal joint shown in Figure 10.

For convenience in illustrating the invention, 25 the preferred form thereof is shown in the drawings as applied to the rear driving wheels of a vehicle, in connectionv with which the invention is particularly usful. It will nevertheless be understood that certain features of the inven- 30 tion are applicable to the front -road wheels of a vehicle or to wheels which are not used for driving. It will also be appreciated that while specific language is used herein to facilitate a description of the embodiment of the invention 35 shown in the drawings, no limitation of the scope of the invention is thereby intended, various alterations and modifications being contemplated such as would occur to one skilled in the art.

Referring first to Figure 1 of the drawings, it 40 will be` observed that the vehicle frame is illustrated as comprising-,the usual side sills Ill, these side sills and the structural elements which form in` effect continuations thereof to the extreme rear end of the vehicle being referred to for con- 45 venience hereinafter as side frame members. Thus each side sill I0 is preferably of channel section' with the flanges thereof directed inwardly, the sills being reinforced in the mid por- 4tion of the frame by members I2, which are 50 similarly of channel section and arranged with the flanges directed outwardly, the flanges of the sills I0 and members l2 being secured together to form a closed or box section. Therearward ends of the members l2 are deected inwardly 55 as indicated at I3 and are secured at I4 to a transverse member II, the latter being in turn secured at its outer ends to the side sills I0 and to the rearward continuation thereof constituted by members I8. Fitting within and secured to the side sills I0 are the members I8- of channel section which are curved inwardly intermediate the ends thereof and which are preferably continued to form the extreme rear end of the frame. Structuralmembers 22 of channel section preferably t within and are secured to each member I8 as indicated at 23, extending forwardly therefrom and being secured as at 24 to the transverse member I I. A transverse member 28 of channel section is-also arranged to extend between and be secured to the members I8 and the associated members 22. 'I'he extreme rear ends of the members I8 are preferably connected by a transverse member 29, it being observed that this portion of the frame need support only the usual gasoline tank, luggage carrier, or other accessories ordinarily provided at the rear of the vehicle.

The transverse frame member II may be formed to provide a main portion of generally channel section facing downwardly and having forwardly and rearwardly directed flanges 3l and 32, these flanges serving to substantially stiifen the member I I and to facilitate the connection to the latter of the members I2, 22 asvshown morev particularly in Figure 2 of the drawings. The member II may be further strengthened by securing to the flanges 3| and 32 a plate 21, forming with the member]I II a completely closed section as shown in Figure 5.

A wheel supporting member carries each road wheel on the frame for rising and falling movement with respect thereto, this wheel supporting member preferably comprising arms 34 and 35 which merge adjacent the road wheel and which extend forwardly therefrom, being pivoted to they flange 46 formed on a wheel supporting sleeve 48,`

the latter constituting a .carrier for the wheel bearings 49 on which the wheel hub 58 is directly journalled for rotation.- Except as specifically mentioned herein, the wheel structure does not depart from conventional practice.

A driving spindle 52 extends within the "'heel structure and is journalled as indicated at 53 in `the sleeve,4 8. A member 54 is provided' with a sleeve portion surrounding the spindle 52 and secured thereto, for instance by means of a bolt 56, cooperating key portions 51 or the like being provided to couple the member 54 and spindle 52 for rotation. The member 54 is also provided with a radial flange portion 58 having a toothed or splined periphery cooperating with a corresponding toothed or splined portion of the wheel hub 50 as -indicated at' 59, the construction being such as to permit relative lateral displacement of the member 54 and the hub 58 while .ensuring rotative connection therebetween. A cap 8| is threaded on the end ofthe hub 58 so that the moving parts sealing means 83 and 64 acting between the sleeve Y48 and the wheel hub 5I! and spindle 52 respectively to prevent discharge of lubricant from the interior of the hub.

The spindle 52 is connected through a universal joint 65 to a laterally extending axle 88. and the latter is connected through a second universal joint 61 to gearing within a differential housing 10. The universal joints 65 and 61 may be of conventional construction and the details thereof I form no part of the present invention.

The differential housing 18 is illustrated as supvported at its rear end on the member 28, a brace member 1I preferably extending between the base of the member 28 and the lower flange thereof to reinforce the latter adjacent the point of support for the differential housing. The support may comprise a generally semispherical bracket 13 secured to the lower flange of the member 28 and a cooperating generally spherical cap portion 14 secured to the bracket 13, these two elements of the support affording an opening 15 in the forward side thereof through which may extend the rearwardly directed portion of a bracket 18., Bracket 18 may be bolted or otherwise secured to the differential housing as indicated at 19 and is provided with a generally spherical head portion 98 located within the support and surrounded by an element 82 of rubber or other deformable material, the element 82 being preferably vulcanized or otherwise surface bonded to the support'and to the bracket 18. It will be observed that with this construction the differential housing is completely isolated from the frame at the point of rear support and is permitted slight rocking movement, such movement being accompanied by deformation of the element 82, whereby the transmission of shock is prevented and vibrational disturbances induced in the driving mechanism are damped. At the forward side thereof the differential thousing is provided with bosses 84 which are 4 apertured to receive a transversely extending shaft 85, the bosses being preferably shrunk on the shaft to afford a tight fit therebetween. I'he outer ends of the shaft 85 are provided with generally spherical head portions 86 which are received in the complementary portions of a generally spherical socket 88, elements 89 of rubber or other deformable material being interposed between and preferably vulcanized or surface bonded to thef sockets 88 and the/head portions 88 of the shaft 85.

The drive system is preferably of the Wellknown Hotchkiss type in which the motor and the gearing within the differential housing are connected by a relatively long drive shaft 9|) having universal joints at either end. For convenience, only the universal joint at the rear end and adjacent the differential housing is shown and this joint, while of conventional construction, is preferably so formed as to provide not only for the necessary angular movement between the drive shaft and thedifferential housing but to afford slight relative .bodily displacement thereof in a generally longitudinaldirection. Thus the joint maycomprise outwardly directed arms 92 formed integrally with or secured to the drive shaft 98 and similar arms 93 secured to or formed integrally with a shaft 95, the latter extending into the differential housing 18 and being associated with the gearing therein to drive the latter in the conventional manner. Alternate-arms 92 and 93 are 'preferably dlsposedat intervals of substantially- 90. A generally r-annular member comprising within the hub may be thoroughly lubricated, plates 91 and 98 secured in face to-face contact u ing |03 extends through each of the rubber blocks' of 90 to provide generally cup-shaped portions 99 receiving therein blocks |0| of rubber or other deformable material of asimilar nature. A bushand is preferably provided with a circumferential rib portion |04 lying within the blocks, the'rubber blocks being vulcanized or otherwise surface bonded within the cup-shaped receptacles 99 and to the bushing |03. Each bushing |03 is in turn secured to one of the arms 92 or 93 by means of a bolt |05 passed through the bushing and the associated arm. By the employment of universal joints of this character, the necessary relative axial movement between the drive shaft and the' differential housing is afforded, the rubber blocks Abeing preferably of such size and of such ayieldi'ng and damps vibrational disturbances, .being particularly useful in the elimination of noise, roughness of action, and the disagreeable action commonly referred to as clutch chatter.

Returning now to the arms 34 and 35 at each side of the vehicle, it will be observed that the arm 35 may extend through an opening |01 in themember I8, while the arm 34 preferably lies outside of the side frame member and is plvoted to the Ilatter by vmeans of a laterally extending bracket having a base portion |08 secured to the side sill I0. Formed integrally with the base portion |08 of the bracket is a generally cup-shaped structure |09 d having apertures through which bolts may pass freely, the apertures ||0 being of sufficient size to avoid direct contact of the bolts and the cup-shaped structure |09. Each bolt is provided with an enlarged portion ||3 forming shoulders thereon, plates I4 and ||5 being apertured to receive the bolts nuts ||1 serving to draw the plates into abutting relation with these shoulders.

Interposed between the cup-shaped structure |09 and the plates |14 and H5,` are relatively thin sheets indicated at ||9 and |20 respectively of rubber or similar deformable material which may be compressed slightly as the plates are secured in position on the bolts the degree of compression being obviously limited by the length of the enlarged portions ||3 of the bolts. The plate ||,5 is provided with a plurality of bosses ||8 surrounding the bolts and constituting abutments for laterally directed arms- |22 formed on a member |23 constituting a pivot bearing for ,the arm 34, the arms |22 being apertured to re-,

-prising a base portion |28 secured to the frame having a generally cup-shaped structure I 29 formed integrally therewith provided with apertures |30 through which bolts |3| may pass freely.

Each bolt |3| is provided fwith an venlarged portion |33 arrangedv for engagement by the plates |34 and |35 which are ,apertured to receive the bolts |3|, nuts |31 serving to clamp the plates .within the frame member at this point.

rigidly together in spac'ed relation to each other.

Interposed between the cup-shaped -structure |29 and the plates |34 and |35 are relatively thin `sheets of rubber or similar deformable material l |39 and |40 which may be compressed slightly as the plates are secured in position by the bolts |3 the degree of compression being limited by the length of the enlarged portions |33 of the bolts.

The plate |35 is provided with a plurality of formed on a member |43, the latter affording a i pivot bearing for the arm 35.

A spring abutment indicated generally at |44 is carried by each of the side frame members adjacent and above the arms 34 and 35. In the preferred form of the invention these abutments are carried directly by forwardly extending portions |45 of the side sills |0 and by the members I8 and are secured thereto by welding, riveting, or otherwise. As shown more particularly in Figure 4, the abutment may comprise a generally annular element |48 welded to the members rI8 and |45, and a downwardly directed generally cup-shaped member |5| welded to the element |48. A coil spring |52 is interposed under compression between the frame supported abutment and an abutment indicated generally at |55 supported by. and .between the arms 34 and 35, the abutment |55 being generally similar in shape to the abutment |44 a'nd comprising an annular element |56 which is preferably bolted as at |51 to the arms 3 4 and 35, a cup-shaped member |58 being welded or otherwise secured to the element |56. A member |60 of rubber or other deformable resilient material is secured to the member |58, foi instance by vulcanization or surface bonding thereto, the construction being strengthened by the provision of an apertured element |6| embedded in the rubber and secured to the member |58 by welding. served that the member |60-is positioned for engagement with the member |5| in the event either of the arms 34 and 35 are swung upwardly to a sufficient extent, this construction thus limiting the upward displacement of the road wheels, either on failure of the coil springs |52 which constitute the principal or sole means for yieldingly'resisting rising movement of the wheels, or when an extremely rough road bed is encountered such as would necessitate the reinforcement of the springs to prevent excessive relative displacement of the road wheels and the frame.

`Shock absorbing means are preferably provided to resist sudden orrapid acceleratlive movement of the road wheels with respect to the frame.

It will be ob- The shock absorbing means is preferably located v as shown in Figures 1 and 2 near the rear of the vehicle and may comprise a shock absorbing unit of conventional design secured to the transverse frame member 28, a generally cup-shaped reinforcing element |66 being secured to and The mechanism within the shock absorbing unit |65 is actuated by a shaft |68 which is arranged to4 be rocked by means of a laterally extending arm |69 as the road wheel executes rising and falling movements, the arm |69 being secured to the shaft |68. The arm |69 extends through an opening |1| in the framemembers |8 and 22 and is pivotally connected adjacent the outer end thereof with a link |12, the latter being in turn pivotally connected to an .inwardly directed ilange |14 which Amay be formed integrally with the 75 hereinbefore described an arrangement such as shown in Figure 9 may be employed to limit downf ward movementl of the vehicle wheelwith respect to the frame to an undesirable extent. This construction may comprise a member |16 formed integrallywith or securedto the arm |69, this member being arranged for engagement with a block |11 of rubber or other deformable material 'secured to a bracket |18 which is in turn carried bythe adjacent side frame member I8. The function of this arrangement is obvious from an inspection of Figure 9 oi the drawings.

.While the hereinbefore mode of operatively connecting the shock absorbing unit is preferred, it will be obvious to one skilled in the art that the unit maybe located forwardly of the road wheel assembly and operatively connected to either of the arms 34 and 35 on the axis of pivotal connection of these arms to the frame; in other Words, the operating shaft of the shock absorbing unit may serve as a fulcrum for either of the arms 34 and 35.`

It will be observed that the frame construction is 'of unusual strength forwardly of the road wheels and is thus able to adequately resist the stresses applied thereto by the forwardly extending arms 34 and 35. Rearwardly of the road wheels the vehicle frame may be unusually light owing to the relatively small load which is applied thereto. The manner in which the individual road wheels are supported to also particu- .larly effective since the load is distributed between two arms which are reinforced by the spring abutment |55, any lateral thrust applied to the road wheels being properly resisted by reason'of the substantial spacing, as measured laterally of the frame, of the pivotal points of support for the arms 34 and 35.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimedas new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. In a wheel suspension for motor vehicles. the combination with oppositely disposed road wheels, of a frame including side frame members, and means supporting each road wheel for independent rising and falling movement, said means comprising a wheel carrying member having diivergent arms pivoted on said frame at spaced points on a common transverse axis, one of said arms extending through an opening in the adjacent sidey frame member.

2. In a wheel suspension for motor vehicles, the combination with oppositely disposed road wheels, of a frame including side frame members,

means supporting each road wheel for independent rising and falling movement, said means comprising a wheel carrying member having divergent arms pivoted on said frame at spaced points on a common transverse axis, one of said arms extending through an opening in the adjacent side frame member, a transverse frame member extending between said side frame members, a

support for said last named arm secured to said transverse frame member, and a support for the other of said arms extending outwardly of and secured to the adjacent side frame member.

3. In a wheel suspension for motor vehicles. the combination with oppositely disposed road wheels, of a frame including side frame members, means supporting each road wheel for independent rising and falling movement, said means comprising a Wheel carrying member having divergent arms pivoted on said frame at spaced points on a common transverse axis, one of said arms extending through an opening in the adjacent side framemember, a transverse frame member extending between said side frame members, a support for said last named arm secured to said transverse frame member, and a support for the other of said arms extending outwardly of and secured toy the adjacent side frame member, each of said supports including rubber interposed between andi isolating said arms from said frame.

4. In af' motor vehicle frame having side sills provided with portions affording abutments for rear wheel supporting coil springs and structural elements secured to said sills and forming extensions thereof rearwardly of said abutments, the combination with a transverse frame member secured tosaidsills, rear wheel supporting members pivoted to said transverse frame member, a differential housing having gearing therein operatively connected with said wheels, and means extending between said structural elements and said transverse frame member supporting said diierential housing.

5. In a motor vehicle frame having side sills,

portions affording frame carried abutments for ried spring abutment extending between each pair of wheel supporting members.

CLYDE R. PATON. 

